OTTAWA–GATINEAU – Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired will have access to a new telecommunications service as early as the fall of 2015.
The CRTC said Tuesday that video relay service will be made available in Canada for users of American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). When it launches, the service will facilitate conversations between people who are deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired and other Canadians, and vice versa. An operator facilitates the conversation between the two parties by relaying the conversation between sign language and spoken language.
Although video relay service will be offered at no charge, users will need their own high-speed Internet service and an Internet-connected device, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet or videophone. Additional services, such as voice mail and call display, will be billed at rates similar to those charged for corresponding voice services.
The Commission added that funding to support the service will be drawn from the National Contribution Fund, and capped at $30 million annually. This fund was created in 2001 to subsidize local telephone service in areas where the cost of providing this service is higher, and companies with over $10 million in annual telecommunications revenues currently contribute to it.
An independent administrator will be created to oversee the implementation and provision of video relay service to ensure the perspectives of users are reflected in the decision-making process. The CRTC has established minimum requirements for the provision of this service, and the administrator will have to ensure that these requirements are met.
The Commission also issued a call for comments on the administrator’s structure and precise mandate, including the composition of the board of directors. Proposals must be submitted by May 22, and comments on these proposals and other relevant issues may be submitted until June 25, 2014.
“Many Canadians who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired learn American Sign Language or Langue des signes québécoise early in life. In many cases, neither English nor French is their first language”, said Peter Menzies, telecommunications vice-chairman, in a statement. “Video relay service will make it possible for them to communicate in sign language with ease, whether it’s to make a doctor’s appointment, speak to a friend or make any other type of call. At the same time, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that this service is introduced in an efficient manner and as quickly as possible.”
The CRTC pledged to conduct a review of video relay service three years after it has launched to assess whether it is meeting the needs of Canadians in an efficient manner.
www.crtc.gc.ca
